BATAVIA DOWNS RECEIVES PPP FUNDING TO COVER WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES
Officials at Western Regional Off Track Betting / Batavia Downs Gaming (WROTB/BDG) today announced they have received funds via the Paycheck Protection Program which will provide critical financial relief for costs including payroll, health benefits, rent, and other expenses related to job retention. The funds will cover the next two months of expenses and were awarded April 30, 2020.
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“When PPP funding was announced last month, the Board of Directors and I made the decision almost immediately to apply for relief,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of WROTB/BDG. “What was most important was continuing to financially support our staff and their families during these uncertain times.”
The gaming facility was closed on March 16th and employees were paid their full wages for a period of one month. On April 16th they were furloughed for a period of 2 weeks. Once the PPP loan was secured, employees were recalled to begin work again on the next pay week.
Throughout the temporary closure there have been employees working onsite including security and surveillance. Others are working from home. As a potential reopening date comes closer there will be new health, safety, and security protocols put into place. Employees will be trained and made aware of whatever new safety regulations are implemented well in advance of opening in order to provide a safe environment for employees and guests.
“Once we re-open, we will look to continue to deliver revenue to our partners in local government, said Wojtaszek. “Once given the go ahead by state officials we hope that through the gaming floor, our concerts, and events we can provide much needed monies to local governments in order to fund critical services from first responders to food banks. We know it will take a lot of preparation on our end to meet those standards, but our dedicated staff will ready to take on the task.”
Western Regional OTB and Batavia Downs employs over 450 hard working Western New Yorkers.
About Batavia Downs/WROTB
Owned and operated by 15 Western New York counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia, NY. WROTB owns and operates 17 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated over $220 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of those participating municipalities.
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